Brown backing "stupid" Hock

Gareth Hock has been backed to bounce back from his doping ban by Kevin Brown.

Last Updated: 26/08/09 4:27pm

Gareth Hock has been backed to bounce back from his doping ban by his brother-in-law and former team-mate Kevin Brown.

The Wigan and England second-rower was handed a two-year suspension after testing positive for a metabolite of cocaine on June 5.

His absence was most strongly felt during Wigan's 39-26 Carnegie Challenge Cup semi-final defeat to Warrington on August 8.

And Huddersfield stand-off Brown, who is preparing to represent the Giants in Saturday's final against the Wolves, has voiced his support for the troubled 25-year-old.

"I think he's got his head around what's happened and he's determined to put his wrongs right and show people how to learn from his mistakes," said Brown.

"Now he's got a two-year ban, he's got to keep his head down and keep believing he can come back a better player.

"Obviously he's devastated and gutted over how stupid he's been. He knows what he's thrown away and he said to me watching the semi-final was one of the hardest things he's done. He wished he could have been out there with his mates.

"Hopefully he'll come back a better player and bigger person for it."

The Rugby Football League has meanwhile confirmed that Hock will not be appealing the suspension, which started on June 23, 2009.